Pastor Garvin Otto
A member of the clergy has acknowledged his role in a series of financial crimes that left multiple victims and commercial establishments out of pocket by more than $300,000.
Gavin Otto accepted responsibility for all 19 criminal charges brought against him during a court appearance this Monday. His sentencing hearing is set for November 7.
The charges against Otto include 13 counts related to obtaining money through false pretences and six counts involving fraudulent conversion. The crimes took place over a 20-month period spanning February 2021 through October 2022.
Several of the fraudulent conversion allegations involve Otto accepting payment for construction materials and shipping containers that customers never received.
Otto also had a practice of writing cheques without adequate funds to support them.
Multiple service stations accepted cheques from Otto’s personal account in exchange for cash, only to have every one rejected due to insufficient funds.
Police executed a search warrant at Otto’s residence in October 2022 as part of their investigation. Officers reported that Otto attempted to flee the scene by climbing over a fence. He was subsequently detained, and investigators recovered numerous receipts and cheque stubs from inside the property.
They need to check the trini an mc pond as well, lots of these so called pastors opening churches all around and they are not what they say they are
Always remember that church is also a money making business for MANY pastors. Plenty people can learn the Bible and put forward a presentation then make money be the last thing they ask about. Sounds familiar?????
They need to check the trini an mc pond as well, lots of these so called pastors opening churches all around and they are not what they say they are
Wowww anyway pastor is human too. Sad though
It’s always heartbreaking when someone in a position of spiritual authority betrays the public’s trust like this. Being a man of the cloth should come with a higher moral standard, not excuses for wrongdoing.
A lot of people are shocked because they saw him as a man of God. But this shows that anyone can fall, and forgiveness doesn’t erase responsibility. Hopefully, he uses this time to truly repent and make amends
Whether pastor, politician, or ordinary citizen….the law must apply equally. It’s good to see accountability taking its course, even if it’s uncomfortable. Let the sentencing reflect the gravity of these offences.
We all fall short, yes but when you’re a leader, the damage you cause is multiplied. He needs to face the consequences.
Shameful
A sad reminder that faith and integrity must go hand in hand. Hope the victims get the restitution they deserve.
This case is a reminder that we must be careful who we trust with our money and our faith. Too often, charm and position blind us to the warning signs of deception
He had years to come clean, but instead, he kept going. Now the law catching up. Actions have consequences, no matter who you are
When a pastor commits crimes like this, it’s not just about money . it’s about the broken trust of people who believed in him. Spiritual leaders should be the example, not the warning